Why God Doesn’t Remove Our Sinful Cravings Immediately

By J. D. Greear

Every Christian I know has had the experience of coming up against the same sin—again—and wondering, “Will this struggle ever end? Why doesn’t God just remove this?” (If you haven’t had that experience, just give it time.) This seems to be a frustration common to all believers, and not just with sin, either. When we experience any prolonged suffering or pain or discomfort, we have to ask, Why?
This isn’t the question of a skeptic trying to prove that God doesn’t exist—the famous apologetic “problem of evil.” No, this is the personal question of a believer trying to discern what in the world God is doing with the continued struggles in his life. It is the question of someone who reads, “For those who love God, all things work together for good,” and is trying to reconcile that theological truth with her present circumstances.
One of the most surprising insights into this question comes from Judges 3. Tucked in between the stories of Othniel and Ehud is a statement that most Christians skip right over. But if we took this truth to heart, we’d have a renewed courage to face our struggles: “Now these are the nations that the LORD left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. It was in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before” (Judges 3:1-2).
Why did God leave struggles for his people, Israel? Israel’s struggle was tangible and obvious: It came in the form of enemy nations and their armies. So why didn’t God drive them out?
In one sense, as the book of Judges pounds into our heads over and over, the enemy nations are there because Israel didn’t believe God enough to drive them out. But that’s not what Judges 3 says. No, here we see that God left them there to test Israel so that they might learn to fight wars.
God wanted to give Israel the land of Canaan. But apparently, he wanted to do it through struggle. So he continued to test them, to see if they would believe him, to teach them to trust him in their fight. He does the same with us, though (as Paul reminds us) our battle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against spiritual powers. Why doesn’t God remove our struggles when we become Christians? Because he wants us to keep relying on his grace, not on our flesh. As Paul said, some of the weaknesses and trials in our lives are there—by design—to keep us humble.
What this means is that sometimes God allows us to struggle with a lesser sin to keep us from a greater one—pride. Because if you or I were immediately cured from certain sins, we’d become insufferably proud. I know that God has done that with me, specifically in my marriage. The first couple years of my marriage were a struggle for both my wife and me. We had a lot of junk that needed to be exposed. But when I look back, I’m thankful for that time, because it keeps me from becoming self-righteous when I look at problems other people have in their marriages. Struggle is a constant way of driving the proverb “There, but for the grace of God, go I” into our hearts.
John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace,” understood this from experience as well. He grew frustrated by the continued sin in his life, until it dawned on him that any remaining sin kept him in desperate need of grace: “The riches of his mercy,” he said, “are more illustrated by the multiplied pardons he bestows upon me, than if I needed no forgiveness at all.”
The persistence of pain in our lives—especially the pain of battling against sin—shouldn’t make us complacent. God didn’t leave the Canaanites so that Israel would eventually get comfortable with them being around. It was just the opposite: He left the Canaanites so that Israel would learn to fight.
So when you are tempted to despair because you continue to struggle, remember what God is doing through your circumstances. Look to Christ, whose resurrection guarantees victory. Look to Christ, who fought for you when you were his enemy. Look to Christ, the only Savior who can give you the strength to stand, and who will pick you up every time you fall. Look to Christ, and fight.

J.D. Greear, Ph.D., pastors the Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, NC. Tagged by Outreach magazine as one of the fastest growing churches in America, the Summit has grown in the past 8 years from 400 to over 5,000 each weekend. The Summit Church is deeply involved in global church planting, having undertaken the mission to plant 1000 churches in the next 40 years. J.D. has authored Breaking the Islam Code and the upcoming Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary. More from J. D. Greear or visit J. D. at http://www.jdgreear.com

British Pakistani Christian Association gives aid to the four children of Christian couple set alight and killed in hate attack

British Pakistani Christian Association gives aid to the four children of Christian couple set alight and killed in hate attack
By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST Ministries and the ASSIST News Service
LONDON, UK (ANS – April 30, 2015) – The British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA) is providing counselling and assistance to the three children of Christian couple Shahzad Masih and Shama Bibi, who was four months pregnant, when they were burned alive in a brick kiln last November for alleged blasphemy.
Their shocking extrajudicial killing to place at the brick Kiln of Yousaf Gujjar, a Muslim landowner in Kasur (near Lahore) in Pakistan.
The killing was sparked by the mob's false belief the couple had desecrated a copy of the Koran. By the time the attack was over, only charred bones and the couple's discarded shoes remained.
According to the BPCA, a crowd started beating the couple with clubs, stripped them naked, then paraded them in public, all of the time goading, and insulting them.
Eventually the perpetual beatings fractured the legs and arms of the victims, giving an indication of the severe and sheer brutality of the attack. The mob then dragged the distressed and aching couple towards the kiln's furnace and shouted praises to Allah as they burnt them alive.
At the time, the couple already had four children – Suleman (8), Zeeshan (5) given to an uncle for adoption as they could not keep him at the time, Sonia (4) and Poonam (18 months).
“They all had to flee for their own safety,” said Wilson Chowdhry, founder of the British Pakistani Christian Association. “One brother remained and had to watch as the perpetrators of violence killed his brother and sister in-law before him. He was unable to offer any help and the torturous incident has left him in a frenzied state of mind.”
Some 75 men alleged to have taken part in the gruesome murder, including Mr. Gujjar, have since been arrested on charges of murder.
Chowdhry went on to say, “Attempts were also made to burn one of the children, but did not proceed when guilt manifested through the collective conscience of the violent mob.
“Since the incident, BPCA's teams have been maintaining contact with the family providing counselling and assistance. Our live-out nanny team has been providing washing, cleaning and cooking services to the children and the maternal grandfather, who is currently the legal guardian, whilst a custody battle ensues over the long term placement of the children.
“The children have become pawns in a five way custody battle which include the maternal grandfather, paternal uncle, maternal uncle, the nonprofit Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, and the Legal Evangelical Association Development organization.”
He said that On Friday 13, 2015, BPCA sent its Pakistan officer, Mehwish Bhatti, to visit the family, to find out how the children were doing and how the UK-based group could use their benevolent fund to improve their quality of life.
After the visit, Bhatti said, “On meeting the children I noticed how excited they were to be seeing visitors. I brought them gifts of stationary and eatables the type that I enjoyed when their age, that are relatively healthy. The children were all in one room in a rented house, within Lahore, that was being paid for by the local Full Gospel Assembly Church.”
According to BPCA, Mehwish spent the day with the children preparing a “healthy cereal meal for them, drawing and writing and just sharing time with them.”
She also shared Bible stories with them and prayed with the children and the maternal grandfather. She said that the children did not know many Bible stories and so she left some children's Christian books for them.
“They all baked cakes together and the children loved the interaction, it seemed liked they craved it,” she said.
Wilson Chowdhry said that Suleman “is aware of the death of his parents as he saw the full attack, while four-year-old Sonia understands her parents are no longer with her.
“She misses them and remembers people shouting at them and hitting her parents,” he added. “Sadly Sonia saw her parents being roasted alive as she was also picked up to be burnt with them, however the mob released her after a consensus refused to burn a child.
“Poonam survived being thrown to the ground by the men who first grabbed the couple, after breaking into the room they were imprisoned in. It is hard to tell what she remembers, however, it is believed her recollection of events will be limited due to her young years and distance from the final moments of her parents, as she was rapidly taken to safety by relatives, before the burning of her parents.”
Chowdhry then stated that a representative had informed him that he will be meeting with the Deputy Commissioner of the local police authority next week.
“He advises us that all 75 men arrested in the aftermath of the killing are still incarcerated, despite monthly attempts at obtaining bail,” he continued. “He feels confident that justice will be done, considering the genuine attempts by police officers to see through justice and court resilience to bail applications.”
The representative, “The children were clinging to me they were obviously bereft of a mother figure and it was a very emotional departure, as they were crying for me to stay. I hope something is done to resolve this gap in their emotional and spiritual needs.”
Pakistan's brick kiln workers are often subject to harsh practices, with a study by the Bonded Labour Liberation Pakistan's brick kiln workers are often subject to harsh practices, estimating that 4.5 million are indentured laborers.
Now, the British Pakistani Christian Association has launched a fund to help the children of the murdered couple and others who are suffering because of their faith in the predominately Muslim country.
If you would like to be a part of that process, by donating to their permanent benevolent fund, just go to www.britishpakistanichristians.co.uk/  or, if you wish to send a check, it should be made payable for the BPCA and mailed to their address: 57 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1XG, England.
Photo captions: 1) Nanny with children of Shama and Shahzad and Mehwish Bhatti (Photo: British Pakistani Christian Association. 2) Relatives of a Christian couple who were burnt alive for alleged blasphemy cry at their house in Kot Radha Kishan, near Kasur, Pakistan. 3) Campaigners protesting the killing of the couple. (Photo Asia Press)
Dan Wooding, 74, is an award-winning journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for more than 51 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and he hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on the KWVE Radio Network in Southern California and which is also carried throughout the United States and around the world. He is the author of some 45 books, the latest of which is a novel about the life of Jesus through the eyes of his mother called “Mary: My Story from Bethlehem to Calvary”. For more information, please go to http://marythebook.com/ where you can find details of how to order the book.
Note: If you would like to help ANS continue bringing you these stories, please go to www.assistnews.net  and scroll down to make a much-appreciated donation.
** You may republish this or any of our stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net).
Read more

Baduy, Kanekes of Indonesia

Baduy, Kanekes of Indonesia The Badui people are a remnant of archaic Sundanese society, speaking an old dialect of Sundanese. The Badui purposely isolated themselves in a mountainous region when Java became predominantly Muslim in religion. They have maintained a rigid, caste-like system of social stratification. The government has attempted to educate these people and bring an improved lifestyle. But the majority has refused this help and consequently remains illiterate and primitive. People fear them for their ability to predict the future and to cast spells on their enemies. Ministry Obstacles Since the Gospel has come to Java, the Badui have staunchly resisted it, just as they originally opposed Islam. At one time, an Indonesian Christian spoke with some Badui about Jesus Christ, but his efforts were strongly opposed by the tribe's leaders. Outreach Ideas Workers should be prepared with some good, culturally-oriented, Gospel visuals since the people cannot read. The peoples' black magic and fetishes mean one should be prepared for power-encounter situations. Pray for the followers of Christ There are likely no followers of Jesus Christ among the Badui at this time, but pray for those who will soon be set free from such things as black magic and occultism. Pray these things will quickly lose their hold on the new believers in Christ. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Badui people will be open to the larger world, seeking ways to improve their standard of living, obtain improved health care, and better prepare their children for the 21st century. Scripture Focus "How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" Romans 10:14-15		People Name: Baduy, Kanekes Country: Indonesia 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 25,000 World Population: 25,000 Language: Badui Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions Bible: None Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

In Ukraine: Medicine and Faith (Writer's Opinion)

In Ukraine: Medicine and Faith (Writer's Opinion)
By Sharon T. Markey, Special to ASSIST News Service (Writer's Opinion)
TERNOPIL, UKRAINE (ANS – April 24, 2015) -- My first exposure to the Ukrainian medical system came early on. I moved to Ukraine to begin life with my husband, who had already been living here for ten years with his parents and siblings. At our wedding, one of the groomsmen, my husband’s 11-year-old brother Aaron, fainted. I will never forget the sickening sound of his head striking the tiled floor. He ended up spending about a month in the hospital.
During that time, my mother-in-law practically lived at the hospital with her youngest son, but I didn’t know why. Later I would learn that most nursing care in Ukraine only provides medical services. Nurses give injections, administer I.V.s, take blood pressure, etc. If a patient isn’t able to fend for himself, he needs a caretaker around the clock. My brother-in-law needed someone to feed him, help him use a bedpan, give him sponge baths, change his sheets, and even turn off his I.V.s when the fluid ran low.
He also needed someone to bring things into the hospital for him, because beyond their medical equipment, public hospitals here provide only the barest of necessities: beds, toilets, showers. Everything else—from medications to things like sterile gloves, bandages, needles, and syringes to the toilet paper you use to most of the food that you eat—has to be brought in by family or friends. This keeps costs down, since much of the medical care is technically free.
But I didn’t know any of this at the time. All I knew was that the other women in my new family were wrapped up in Aaron’s care, and I felt simultaneously guilty and relieved not to be involved. I did go to visit him, and that was an overwhelming experience in itself.
Ukraine was the first country outside the developed world where I had ever spent any amount of time, so I had no idea what to expect. While it’s not a third-world country, the infrastructure and living conditions lag behind what most Americans would consider normal. However, we were in Kyiv, the capital city, and it was well developed, with a subway system, beautifully restored old churches, impressive monuments, and large malls with name-brand stores. Given how well-kept the city was, I think I expected something similar to what most Westerners would envision when picturing a hospital: gleaming white corridors, hospital beds with medical equipment within reach, and helpful orderlies. While such conditions do exist at private clinics located in Ukraine’s larger cities, that was not the scene that awaited us.
We arrived at the hospital in the early dark of a winter evening. It was an old building, possibly built even before the years when communism held sway over Ukraine. Although I now know that Ukrainian hospitals employ women to clean regularly, the place felt anything but clean, because no amount of mopping and scrubbing could have made those aging halls glisten. There was no reception desk or signs to guide visitors. I would have been lost on my own, but my husband had gotten instructions beforehand and deftly led the way down several corridors, their wooden floors warped with age, and up a flight of stone stairs, each step worn down in the middle from the passage of decades of feet, to the ward where his brother was staying.
No sooner had we entered the ward, than a scowling nurse began to yell at us in Russian. We were supposed to remove our coats and other outerwear, as these items were considered dirty and not allowed near the patients. We hurriedly complied, piling our things on a chair in the hall, before she grudgingly allowed us to enter Aaron’s room.
It was a largish room, crammed full of about eight beds, most of them occupied by children with their mothers. There were no beds for the mothers, who had to share with their children, unless there were vacancies in the room. The beds themselves were narrow, more like camp cots than full-sized beds. Besides an I.V. stand beside one child’s bed, there was no sign of medical equipment. It was just a bare room, filled with listless children and haggard-looking women. The whole atmosphere was oppressive and stifling. My mother-in-law is one of the strongest women I know, but it was obvious that she was under tremendous strain.
My next encounter with the public medical system didn’t come for several years. During that time, if we needed a doctor, we just called a private general practitioner who made house calls. He was extremely competent, and we trusted him, but when I became pregnant, we had to find a gynecologist to oversee my prenatal care.
Thankfully, we were able to find a wonderful gynecologist who was knowledgeable, experienced, compassionate, and reassuring. Delivering the baby with her was not an option, but we got a recommendation for an obstetrician at a government birthing hospital and interviewed her. The hospital felt more modern than the one where Aaron had been hospitalized, and the doctor seemed to be in agreement with our wishes for a natural childbirth. But when I showed up in labor, things didn’t go according to plan. It seemed the staff was trying to rush things along using unnecessary interventions, and we were never asked for consent or even informed about what they were doing. By God’s grace, neither I nor the baby sustained any permanent damage, but there were complications that could easily have been avoided, and it took me a year to make a full physical recovery.
Our next three children were not born in Ukrainian hospitals. We had our second child in the U.S., and with our third and our fourth, we chose to stay in Ukraine and have home births.
That’s not to say there aren’t good doctors in Ukraine. There are. My mother-in-law was pleased with the neurologist who oversaw Aaron’s treatment, and the three gynecologists who have given me prenatal care have been wonderful. I also don’t mean to say that it would be impossible to have a positive hospital experience here. However, for me the main problem is the prevalent attitude that the patient’s rights, wishes, and feelings are of no concern. As a soft-spoken person who already feels at a disadvantage because I am a foreigner, I find this attitude terrifying, so I do everything I can to avoid the medical system.
Now that we have children, however, that is not possible. They need annual check-ups for school, and that involves going in to see the pediatrician at our local children’s clinic, which is more difficult than it sounds.
Here, instead of keeping appointments, doctors keep office hours. Patients show up and wait outside the examination room. When you arrive, you ask who is at the end of the line. One of the people gathered will respond, and you know that after that person sees the doctor, it’s your turn.
This system would work fine, except for the number of people who ask for cuts or just push their way in ahead of everyone else. I’m always surprised when no one objects, but the few times I’ve mustered the courage to protest, I’ve been ignored, so I’ve learned just to take it silently like everyone else. To add insult to injury, sometimes after waiting an hour or longer, you can be turned away because the doctor’s office hours are over. I’d be embarrassed to admit how many times waiting in line for the doctor has reduced me to tears, so I won’t, but suffice it to say that it’s a trying ordeal for me.
The last time I went to the doctor with my kids, the waiting area was a zoo, and although we arrived early and were first in line, we were in danger of never making it into the examination room because of all the people literally shoving their way in out of turn. Finally I told my kids, “The next time that door opens, I don’t care what you have to do—get through it.” Their eyes wide, they nodded solemnly, and when the door opened, they dodged their way between people’s legs to get into the doctor’s office, and I followed in their wake.
It felt like a minor victory, but now I wonder if it wasn’t ultimately a defeat. Did I give in to a mentality of asserting my rights at the expense of others? During my first few years in Ukraine, as I was struggling to cope with some harsher aspects of the culture, my husband gently reminded me that the whole reason we have chosen to live here is because we want to see the truth of the Gospel transform people’s lives. Part of our calling is to live the Gospel out in our dealings with others. If we can’t do that, especially in the face of hurt or injustice, we might as well just go home.
Now that we have children, the stakes are even higher, because I want to impart to them a legacy of living this way. As far as the Ukrainian medical system is concerned, I have to ask myself if my fears and insecurities keep me from demonstrating a vibrant faith in a sovereign and loving God who has promised to be with me no matter where I go. Could He accompany me into the uncertainty of a Ukrainian hospital or stand beside me while I meekly endure injustice? Of course He can. The real question is, will I allow Him to lead me where He pleases so that His power can be displayed in my life? Photo captions: 1) Hospital room in a public Ukrainian birthing hospital. 2) The mandatory uniform for new fathers visiting their wives and babies in the hospital. 3) My son Samuel's idea of how to use a stethoscope.
Sharon T. Markey lives in Ternopil, Ukraine with her husband George, and four sons. When she's not too busy wiping noses and changing diapers, you can find her blogging about the humorous and spiritual aspects of life with small kids at www.MommyJoys.com. She can be reached via email at SharonTMarkey@gmail.com.
** You may use this and any of our stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net).
Read more

The Remarkable Story

The Remarkable Story of a Tragic Event That Lead To a Young Girl's Miraculous Journey of Healing
By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST and the ASSIST News Service
BURLESON, TX (ANS – April 24, 2015) -- For Christy and Kevin Beam, faith meant putting one foot in front of the other as they lived life in the shadow of their middle daughter Annabel's devastating chronic illnesses.
Diagnosed with two incurable, life-threatening digestive conditions, Pseudo-Obstruction Motility Disorder and Antral Hypomotility Disorder, nine-year old Anna persevered through years of physical agony, countless hospital visits across the country, invasive testing and treatments, and prayed for even just one day of relief from her debilitating pain.
However, according to a news release monitored by the ASSIST News Service, one day after a tragic, near death experience, Anna and her family's prayers were answered, and their lives were changed forever.
In MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN: A Little Girl, Her Journey to Heaven, and Her Amazing Story of Healing Hachette Books, April 14, 2015), Christy tells the remarkable true story of her sickly young daughter, how she survived a dangerous accident, her journey to Heaven, and the inexplicable disappearance of the symptoms of her chronic disease.
One day in late December 2011, at home in Burleson, Texas, Anna felt well enough to play outside with her sisters on the family ranch. In a terrifying accident, Anna fell thirty feet, headfirst, inside a hollowed-out cottonwood tree. Miraculously, Anna was rescued from the tree unharmed, and even more astoundingly, the
symptoms of her chronic illnesses began to abate the second she came out of the tree.
Three years after the accident, Anna is inexplicably cured of her chronic ailments; entirely symptom-and medicine-free.
In the days following her rescue, Annabel quietly shared a story with her parents of her “visit to Heaven” while inside the tree, and being guided out of the hollow darkness into the light by a guardian angel.
“Although many could dismiss this as a dream or Anna's state of deliria after such a traumatic event, when Anna was airlifted to a nearby hospital in stable condition with no internal damage, broken bones, brain injury, and her distended tummy beginning to subside, it became clear that something inexplicable-something simply miraculous-happened within the depths of the tree,” said the news release.
“Although many doctors and specialists would call Anna's full recovery a highly improbable statistical deviation, the Beams and their close-knit community of supportive friends and family call this defiance of science a miracle. This story is more than a testimony of the existence of Heaven, or even an unfathomable medical anomaly. It is a story of love, family, and an unwavering example of faith in
the face of life's most difficult circumstances.”
The release added, “MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN will change how you look at the world around you and remind you that beyond the scope of human control, God is always at work here on Earth.”
The story is soon to be turned into a Major Motion Picture by Bishop T.D. Jakes, Joe Roth, and Devon Franklin-The Sony Producing Team Behind “Heaven Is For Real.”
About the author:
Christy Wilson Beam was born and raised in Abilene, Texas. She graduated from Hardin Simmons University with a degree in Education and specialization in Reading. Christy now resides near Burleson, Texas with her husband and their three daughters.
For more information on MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN or to schedule an interview with Christy Beam, please contact Michelle Aielli at (212) 364-1223 or Michelle.Aielli@hbgusa.com.
Photo captions: 1) Book cover. 2) Annabel (Anna) with her father (Photo: Ryan Johnson).
Dan Wooding, 74, is an award-winning journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for more than 53 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and he hosts the weekly "Front Page Radio" show on the KWVE Radio Network in Southern California and which is also carried throughout the United States and around the world. He is the author of some 45 books, the latest of which is a novel about the life of Jesus through the eyes of his mother called "Mary: My Story from Bethlehem to Calvary". For more information, please go to http://marythebook.com/, where you can find details of how to order the book.
** You may republish this story with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)
Read more

Katang of Laos

Katang of Laos The Katang are dispersed over a widespread area of southern Laos. In some of the more remote locations, the Katang live in houses made of braided leaves. In recent decades, however, many Katang have moved down from the hills onto the plains, where they have lost much of their cultural heritage and are on the way to assimilation into Lao culture and language. Although most Katang have absolutely no awareness of the Gospel or the claims of Jesus Christ, there is one Katang church in Laos, with approximately 100 known believers. They have faced great opposition from local authorities, shamans, and community leaders, who believe the presence of the Christians will bring a curse on the village from the spirits they have worshipped for countless generations. Most Katang are too bound by fear to consider converting to Christianity. Ministry Obstacles Fear of change and fear of spirits form formidable obstacles to the Gospel. Outreach Ideas Perhaps the Lord will lead people who know how to tell stories from scripture to the Katang tribe. Pray for prepared hearts among the Katang. Pray for the followers of Christ Please pray for the Katang church, that the people will be fully delivered from their past history of folk beliefs and the worship of created things. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Katang tribe will understand the importance of providing a good education for their children, and will be able to provide that education. Scripture Focus "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone works wonders. And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen." Psalm 72:18-19		People Name: Katang Country: Laos 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 146,000 World Population: 146,000 Language: Kataang Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions Bible: None Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.2

Islamic State Warns Those Who Refuse Islam Will Die like Ethiopians in Libya

Islamic State Warns Those Who Refuse Islam Will Die like Ethiopians in Libya

 

By Jeremy Reynalds, Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service (jeremyreynalds@gmail.com)   

 

ISTANBUL, TURKEY (ANS. APRIL 25)  In a video showing the cruel execution of 28 Ethiopian Christians, the militant Sunni terrorist group Islamic State (IS) says persecution of Christians is fundamental to Islam.

 

According to a story by Morning Star News, in the video released late April 19, IS (formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) warns that if Christians in the Middle East and elsewhere refuse Islam, they also will be slain. 

 

An IS spokesman gives Christians three options - convert to Islam, submit to the rule of Islam and pay the Jizya (tribute) or be killed.

 

“We say to Christians everywhere, the Islamic State will expand, with Allah's permission,” a spokesman identified as Sheik Abu Malik Anas An-Nashwan says. 

 

He adds, “And it will reach you even if you are in fortified strongholds. So whoever enters Islam will have security, and whoever accepts the Dhimmah contract will have security. But whoever refuses will see nothing from us but the edge of a spear. The men will be killed and the children will be enslaved, and their wealth will be taken as booty. This is the judgment of Allah and his messenger.”

 

The statement comes after the execution of 28 men identified by IS as, “The worshipers of the cross belonging to the hostile Ethiopian Church.” 

 

Morning Star News says IS shows the 28 Christians divided into two groups of men being marched to their place of execution with their arms bound behind their backs. 

 

One group is held at a coastal area identified as “Wilayat Barqa” (Barqa State) in Libya, and the other is located inland in the desert scrub brush of “Wilayat Fazzan” (Fazzan State), also in Libya.

 

The men in both groups are lined up and then forced to kneel in the sand. After a man who appears in at least one other IS video gives a statement, the men in the desert are shot in the back of their heads. The video switches toward the sea,  where the men there are pushed down into the sand and their throats are slit. Then all the men are beheaded.

 

The segment ends with close-ups of the heads of several victims being stacked onto their bodies as blood flows into the sea. Then the screen goes blank, and An-Nashwan appears.

 

On April 21, the Ethiopian Ministry of Information confirmed the men were Ethiopian migrant workers who were living in Libya. Their identities, if privately known, have not been released. The government ordered a three day official mourning period.

 

The video comes more than two months after IS released a video of the execution of 21 Christians, all but one of them Egyptian, on Feb. 15. The Ethiopians and the Egyptians who were executed on the beach appear to be executed in the same general area.

 

Morning Star News said the latest recording issues what could be termed a treatise on persecuting Christians. 

 

Using numerous citations from the two primary sources of Islamic authority, the Koran and the Sunnah (the sayings and actions of Muhammad), along with quotes from a consensus of Islamic scholars, IS labels Christianity a false religion and calls persecution of Christians a “fundamental” aspect of Islam that has fallen out of use in the modern era.

 

“In the recent past, these rites were absent from the condition of the Muslim Nation. Rather, these rites were the hostages of jurisprudence books and theoretical legal discussions,” An-Nashwan says. 

 

Quoting the Koran, Morning Star News says he adds, “Allah said, ‘Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day, and those who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful, and those who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Book. Fight (them) until they give the Jizyah willingly while they are humbled.’”

 

Going further, An-Nashwan quotes numerous religious edicts issued in consensus by Islamic scholars regarding the treatment of Christians and Jews.

 

“Whoever does not consider the Jews and Christians to be disbelievers and does not hate them is not a Muslim,” An-Nashwan says, quoting Islamic scholar Al Islam Ibn-Taymiyyah. 

 

Citing a Hadith (saying or action of Muhammad), An-Nashwan says Muhammad told his followers to be aggressive toward Christians and Jews, declaring, “If you meet Jews or Christians, do not greet them in peace.”

 

The video is similar to previous IS execution videos with one major difference. In a recording that lasts just over 29 minutes, 24 minutes are spent explaining the Islamic version of the life of Jesus Christ, giving an equally inaccurate account of the history of Christianity and justifying persecution of Christians.

 

Morning Star News says in a possible attempt to give credibility to IS claims that “Dhimmi,” (non-Muslims living under protected but second-class status) are treated well in Islamic society, several people who identify themselves as Christians in Raqqah, the de facto capital of IS in Syria, are interviewed. All claim they were well treated under IS rule.

 

“The one who comes to Raqqah (after paying Jizya) does not have to worry, whether he is Christian or even Jewish,” says one man. 

 

Another assures his fellow Christians that life is safe for Christians in Dhimmi status, saying, “By Allah, we are happy. We've seen security under the Islamic State.”

 

Morning Star News said it is unclear what type of duress, if any, was used against the speakers during the filming of the video in Raqqah.

 

In the wake of its 2014 push through Syrian and Iraqi, Islamic State expelled the entire Christian population from several villages and cities in the region. In Iraq's Nineveh Valley alone, IS threw out more than 15,000 Christian families, according to aid workers in the area. 

 

Those expelled reported forced conversions for those who couldn't escape their respective communities, mostly the sick and elderly.

 

In addition to forced conversions, Morning Star News said those fleeing reported IS fighters seized their property and destroyed or occupied church buildings and monasteries, some of them  hundreds of years old.

 

For more information visit www.morningstarnews.org

 

** You may republish this or any of our stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net) 

 

Earthquake Devastates Nepal, Killing About 1,400 So Far (Breaking News)

Earthquake Devastates Nepal, Killing About 1,400 So Far (Breaking News)

 

By Jeremy Reynalds, Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service (jeremyreynalds@gmail.com)  

 

KATMANDU, NEPAL (ANS. APRIL 25, 2015)  A powerful earthquake shook Nepal on Saturday near its capital, Katmandu, flattening sections of the city’s historic center and trapping dozens of sightseers in a 200-foot watchtower that came crashing down into a pile of bricks.

 

According to a story by Ellen Barry for the New York Times, officials in Nepal initially put the preliminary death toll at 1,157, nearly all of them in the valley around Katmandu. Other media are now saying the death toll is now at about 1,400. 

 

In an email obtained by the ASSIST News Service, Philip Ewert, World Vision's operations director in Katmandu, said  “Infrastructure is down all over the city. Power is out with limited internet access. Walls and water tanks are damaged. We are also getting reports that people are trapped in temples and other public buildings as there was a large festival here Saturday.”

 

The New York Times said it was an event that touched a vast portion of the subcontinent. The quake set off avalanches around Mount Everest, where several hikers were reported to have died. At least 34 deaths occurred in northern India. Buildings swayed in Tibet and Bangladesh.

 

The earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.8, struck shortly before noon, and residents of Katmandu ran into the streets and other open spaces as buildings fell, throwing up clouds of dust. Wide cracks opened on paved streets and in the walls of city buildings. Motorcycles tipped over on their sides and slid off the edge of a highway.

 

By mid afternoon the United States Geological Survey had counted 12 aftershocks, one of which measured a magnitude of 6.6.

 

World Vision said it is mobilizing staff and resources to immediately assist communities right now. It has 200 staff already on the ground, and they are ready to respond with temporary shelter, food, hygiene kits, water, emergency health interventions, and more. 

 

To help through World Vision, click here 

 

Photo caption: A survivor being rescued after the devastating earthquake. 

 

Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org. He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "From Destitute to Ph.D." Additional details on "From Destitute to Ph.D." are available at http://www.myhomelessjourney.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife, Elma. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at JeremyReynalds@comcast.net

 

** You may republish this and any of our stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net) 

 

‘Miracle’ saves lives in Nepal earthquake; others unaccounted for

Nepal E-Alert
Saturday, April 25, 2015

‘Miracle’ saves lives in Nepal earthquake; others unaccounted for

A devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake has struck Nepal, with initial accounts reporting more than 1,000 dead . . . a number sure to rise dramatically as rescue efforts get underway.

Christian Aid Mission has been able to contact the leaders of two out of the 12 indigenous ministries they help in Nepal. One, the leader of a Tibetan fellowship in Kathmandu, called it “a miracle” that the deadly earthquake struck just as worshippers were exiting the church building. “Ten minutes earlier and everyone would still have been inside,” said Christian Aid’s South Asia Director, herself a native of Nepal. “There would have certainly been many injuries, if not deaths.”

A leader in another city reported no injuries among their people, while the rest could not be contacted because phone lines are down and cell service disrupted in those regions. Their status remains unknown at this time.

The Nepali government is urging people to stay outside, away from damaged buildings that may still collapse.

The victims of the earthquake – the largest in Nepal since the 1934 killer quake that claimed 10,000 lives – are desperately in need of prayer and physical provisions like food, water, medicine and shelter. Christian Aid is asking for urgent gifts today to send to the ministries they help in Nepal, so they can start meeting the immediate needs of the victims.

Mahishya of India

Mahishya of India The Mahishya are often landowners, and are engaged in agriculture. The landless among them earn a living by working as agricultural laborers. Some serve as soldiers and many pursue white-collar jobs. The caste council in the village maintains social norms within the community. Traditionally they do not accept water from the lower castes. The Mahishya have a relatively high literacy rate. Generally, both boys and girls study up to the secondary level. They are Hindu, and Brahman priests, acharyas or astrologers are their sacred specialists on special occasions. Ministry Obstacles Spiritual darkness can keep the light of the Gospel from having an effect. Pray for the light to overcome the darkness. Outreach Ideas Perhaps Christians in communities near the Mahishya will be able to help Mahishya Christians become mature in the faith. As they grow in maturity and numbers, they will eventually be capable of reaching the entire community. Pray for the followers of Christ Several hundred Mahishya have reported themselves as Christians to the census of India. These people need prayer support. Pray they will learn to walk in the power of God's Sprit, and will live lives of obedience with hearts of gratitude and love for Christ. Pray for the entire people group Spiritual matters are spiritually discerned, or understood. Please pray the Lord will give the gift of understanding to the Mahishya, that they may see their need and opportunity to know and serve Jesus Christ. Scripture Focus "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations." Luke 24:46-47		People Name: Mahishya Country: India 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 9,469,000 World Population: 10,180,000 Language: Bengali Primary Religion: Hinduism Bible: Complete Online Audio NT: Yes Jesus Film: Yes Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

Persecuted Believers Want to Teach You Something

Believers living in regions dominated by ISIS, the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas want to teach you something. What they have learned through persecution will inspire you to live a more fearless faith. Author Tom Doyle recently shared some of these lessons-included in his latest book, Killing Christians-on VOM Radio. He explained what the examples mean to him personally. “These are Hebrews 11-type people living today that I’ve learned so much from,” he said.

Christian Emergency Network warns, ‘Get Ready as Churches are Targeted’

Christian Emergency Network warns, ‘Get Ready as Churches are Targeted’
By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST Ministries and the ASSIST News Service
PHOENIX, AZ (ANS – April 25, 2015) -- International and U.S. news outlets are reporting police in Paris, France have arrested a 24-year old student on Sunday, believed to be an Islamic radical, on suspicion he was planning a terrorist attack against churches in Paris according to the French Interior Ministry. French police believe they have foiled “an imminent” terrorist attack against one or several churches in the city.
The suspect was in possession of a significant arsenal of “military-type” weapons and was known to French intelligence services as he became known for making inquiries about leaving France for Syria a worldwide recruiting destination for Islamic State (ISIS) operatives. The suspect was placed under surveillance as early as 2014 although nothing was discovered about his terrorist plans prior to his arrest.
The suspect is also being investigated related to a murder in a Paris suburb.
The above was stated in an advisory send out by Mary Marr, Founder and President of the Christian Emergency Network (CEN) -- www.christianemergencynetwork.org.
Marr went on to say, “Christians are witnessing an unprecedented worldwide slaughter of fellow believers who are consistently at the mercy of governments who are not protecting their religious freedoms, a media refusing to report factually and timely on this situation, along with many national Christian leaders who are
being intimidated if they speak out on any matter of conscience.
“Today, while facing a relatively dilemma of religious persecution Christians are hard pressed to get an answer to their question: ‘Why did the French police have specific faith-based security plans and operations in place for mosques and synagogues but not Christian churches, until today?’
“While most local police departments have been honorable faithful protectors, churches are soft targets. And, there are still many local police departments in the U.S. which do not have coordinated emergency plans in place to protect and defend churches who have been the historic rock bed of our nation’s strength.”
Marr went on to say that our churches depend upon broad, dependable, and committed local police departments to protect ALL people, including Christians and church infrastructure.
“But when churches do not have their own security plans in place nor have not taken the step to initiate and coordinate those plans with local police, we are all at risk,” she said. “All it takes is one church to be attacked, and the media report it, for the Church to wake up to this reality. Yet, so many have not made security a budget line item nor asked the local police to assist.
“Churches want open doors to the public and are thereby housing people who are depending upon them for basic safety. Churches are responsible to do their part to help local law enforcement do their job which is to: provide for their own congregations safety, develop their own emergency plans, and have their own emergency teams in place FIRST - well before they even think about deploying in their communities or the mission field!”
Marr added, “Sadly, many churches have not taken this step and very soon we will see a rush to security ‘band aids’ or churches falling prey to ‘sales pitches’ without having a firm and responsible plan in place which fits their unique community need and their congregation.
“But, churches do not have to be so collectively and individually ill prepared. Nor do they need to be disconnected from other churches in their area that will come to help them in their time of need. Since our Bible gives us a roadmap do we need to miss the ministerial opportunity in the communities during crisis when the Hope of Christ brings calm, healing and a future? Churches must start the process now, as time is not our friend given what we see today in Paris, France.”
She says that CEN is offering several ways that can help with their security needs:
* Build ReadyCity to network with other churches, ministries, and the greater Christian community in emergencies large and small and start meeting the needs in your community. For a nationwide list of needs in your area, click here http://meettheneed.org/explore/?orgtemp=275
* ReadyChurch training nationwide for fourteen years in anticipation of this development.
Mary Marr asks, “Why is this arrest of a suspect in an imminent attack on churches in France a game changer for churches in the U.S.? Because the slaughter of Christians in the Mideast, Africa, and in over 60 countries worldwide; the desecration of Christian symbols; and now the plotting of attacks on European churches is not
melodramatic media hype but a reality of what is to come in the U.S. And, Federal authorities have confirmed terrorist activities are now being monitored or investigated in all 50 U.S. states. The worldwide terrorist network of ISIS and other radical Islamic terrorist groups have made their mission plain - religious cleansing of Christians, Jews, and Muslims who do not adhere to their beliefs.”
She went on to say, “In France, police have put into place security for the Jewish and Muslim houses of worship, but had not done so for Christian churches until now. France is ramping up their security operations, but here in the U.S. the situation is still pre-911 in many local communities. The need for your church to work with CEN in cooperation with local, state and federal law enforcement could not be greater! CEN will help you build those relationships of trust, protect your assets, and forge agreements of cooperation that will save the lives of your congregation.”
Respond.
She concluded by saying, “If you are feeling called to respond please contact a CEN Advisor (http://www.christianemergencynetwork.org/advisors) and we will help you Identify your Church Security liaison and establish your ReadyChurch (http://www.christianemergencynetwork.org/resources/readychurch-get-started).
Marr concluded by saying, “If you are concerned this step has not been taken in your church or community and you would like to respectfully express your concern to federal, state and local officials for. Every Christian
ready to respond biblically to emergencies large or small.
“Christian Emergency Network unites Christian volunteers, community leaders and emergency professionals in equipping the Church to be aware and ready to respond in emergencies large and small. To learn more about how you or your Christian organization can be prepared to respond to emergencies big and small go to www.christianemergencynetwork.org.
For interviews with CEN please contact Misti McHatton at (800) 260-5637 or misti.mchatton@christianemergencynetwork.org
Photo caption: 1) The French capital is still on maximum alert following the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magazine in January (Photo: Reuters: Charles Platiau). 2) Mary Marr.
Dan Wooding, 74, is an award-winning journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for more than 51 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and he hosts the weekly "Front Page Radio" show on the KWVE Radio Network in Southern California and which is also carried throughout the United States and around the world. He is the author of some 45 books, the latest of which is a novel about the life of Jesus through the eyes of his mother called "Mary: My Story from Bethlehem to Calvary". For more information, please go to http://marythebook.com/, where you can find details of how to order the book. 
** You may republish this story with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)
Read more

Bozo-Hain of Mali

Bozo-Hain of Mali Bozos are a nomadic people and are thus on the move. In general, tribal groups are refugees, living in perpetual fear of aggression from other tribes or powerful civilizations. Often they are able to survive by living where no one else would want the land. There is very little education within this group, but they are becoming more aware of the world outside. They are animistic; beneath the Muslim surface there is a strong animistic undercurrent. They have their own distinctive religious system and worldview. Ministry Obstacles Scripture is not available in the language of this group, and Mali is not generally hospitable to Christian workers. Outreach Ideas The Bozos are a nomadic people and are thus on the move. It is important to be willing to travel along with them. Pray for the followers of Christ There are probably no followers of Jesus among this group in Mali. But pray the Lord is even now preparing teachers and pastors for those who will soon come to him. Pray for the entire people group Pray the Bozo tribe will be able to provide a good education for their children, and become well prepared to live in a rapidly changing society. Also, pray for peace with other tribes. Scripture Focus "God has granted to the Gentiles [nations] also the repentance that leads to life." Acts 11:18		People Name: Bozo-Hain Country: Mali 10/40 Window: Yes Population: 33,000 World Population: 33,000 Language: Bozo, Kelengaxo Primary Religion: Islam Bible: None Online Audio NT: No Jesus Film: No Audio Recordings: Yes Christ Followers: Few, less than 2% Status: Unreached Progress Level: 1.1

Nepal’s Christian Workers Go Where Few Are Able to Reach Earthquake Victims

Nepal’s Christian Workers Go Where Few Are Able to Reach Earthquake Victims

A Nepalese ministry leader was guest-speaking at a church in Nepal’s capital when the room began to rock.

“All of a sudden it hit us, and I was on something like a roller coaster,” Gopal jee said. “The two pastors were just swaying from one side to the other, and we prayed that everything would be OK at the end of the day.”

The 7.8 earthquake on Saturday (April 25) ended the worship service for about 70 people. They all survived, but at least 4,000 others lost their lives, and more than 7,000 people are injured. The ministry leader and thousands of others are living in tents out of fear of more aftershocks, even as he and his team dispatch teams to help those who have lost everything.

Fallen boulders the size of cars have made some roads impassable, but because the indigenous ministry teams are familiar with the landscape, they know how to walk to affected villages to provide aid. The needs are overwhelming, however, and they need additional funds for food, water, tents and medicines.

The indigenous missionaries are working through extensive church contacts to provide aid in the name of Christ. They have the access to provide local aid but lack funds to purchase them; your gift can make the difference.